Greek teams avoid ‘soccer Grexit’

FIFA and its European branch UEFA have threatened Greece with the expulsion of all its clubs and the Greek national football team from all international competitions following violent episodes among fans in early March.

Last Tuesday Greece and FIFA reached an agreement to restart the Greek Cup, as announced by the president of the Cyprus Football Association (CFA), Costakis Koutsokoumnis. “We have reached an agreement, there is a commitment to begin the Greek Cup again,” he stated after his meeting with Greek Deputy Sports Minister Stavros Kontonis and Greek FA president Giorgos Girtzikis.

Kontonis had previously cancelled the Greek Cup, which had reached the semi-final stage, for fear of turmoil, despite the Greek FA’s opposition.
“The matches may be held outside Athens, perhaps without spectators or perhaps with only schoolchildren in the stands. This will be decided on by Friday between Mr Kontonis and the FA,” Koutsokoumnis added.

According to AFP reports, foreign referees may be called in for the two semi-final matches and the pending final.

The Socceroos coach also commented on the news, expressing his relief FIFA and the Greek FA had resolved their dispute, which could have kept Greece’s national team from the two friendlies in Australia in June.

“It would have been a disaster if we didn’t get those two games, vital to preparing for September’s qualifiers,” Ange Postecoglou told The Sydney Morning Herald.

“It would have left a massive hole in our calendar. Greece is rebuilding its side but has still got real quality in the team. I’m hoping to see massive crowds and to give our players a taste for what’s ahead. I always knew it would get sorted out, us Greeks always like to leave it late.”

The Socceroos coach also commented on the news expressing his relief FIFA and the Greek FA had resolved their dispute which could have kept Greece’s national team from the two friendlies in Australia in June.

“It would have been a disaster if we didn’t get those two games, vital to preparing for September’s qualifiers,” Ange Postecoglou told Smh.

“It would have left a massive hole in our calendar. Greece is rebuilding their side but has still got real quality in the team. I’m hoping to see massive crowds and to give our players a taste for what’s ahead. I always knew it would get sorted out, us Greeks always like to leave it late.”